Igniter for internal-combustion engines.



G. MESSBRSGHMID. IGNITER EOE. INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6,1911.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

WITNESSES y erably operated by the action'of an electronarran y siafrns rarnnr orrica.

CARL MEssnRsci-iirrn, or New Yoan, N. Y., AssreNonfro 'r1-1n DUPLEX MAGNn'ro AND s sPAaK PLUG COMPANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW- Yoan. f

IGNITER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTIN ENGNES' Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented Noa-f7, 191i.

Application led January 6, 191,1. Serial No. 601,074.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL Msssnnscnnrin,

N a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented a new and.

and a pair of make-and-break spark electrodes which can be operated interchangeably, according to actual conditions. The movable make-and-break electrode is prefmagnet which is incorporated with the plug structure. This electrode carries the high tension electrode which extends therethrough and terminates in proximity to a fixed spark point on the'inner end of the plug. i,

The primary object of my invention is to provide ignition means comprising amovable low tension lelectrode and a high tension electrode so connected to the low tension electrode as tobe moved in unison therewith when the low tension electrode is in operation. As a consequence, -should the high tension electrode spark points ever become short-circuited by a bridge of carbon or soot'v or the like forming across the jumpspark gap so as to interrupt temporarily the working of the high tension current, all that will be necessary in orderto break the bridge of short-circuiting material will be to switch over and throw, the low vtension electrode into operation. The low tension.

electrode through the high tension electrode moving in unisontherewith will then break up and. shake ofl the short-circuiting media which have collected to form a bridge across the jump-spark gap-lend high tension sparking canthen be resumed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of 'reference indicate corresponding parts in -all the views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved igniter; Fig. 2 is atop v It is profvided with a pair of Jump spark electrodesplan thereof with the cap removed; and Fig. 3 is a.bottom plan of my igniter.l i

My improved spark plug, which, as be.- fore stated, is ofthe duplexor double-igriition type, 4comprises a hollow bushing l, which is polygonalin form so that it can be engaged by a wrench or other tool, and terminates in a reduced screw-threaded eX- 'tension 2, by means of whichit can'be attachedto the cylinder of an engine. This bushing supports an electromagnetic coil 3 which is arranged on the outer end of the` said bushing and is inclosed by a casing 1 whichl has a screw-threaded end 5.V This screw-threaded end is centrally perforated andcarries an inward extending boss 6, be- .tween which andthe inner wall of the casing 4 the` turns" of wire 3 of the electromagnetic coil are placed, 1. l'l' is a disk serving as an end plate for. the electromagnetic coil and fitting around the boss 6 adjacent its innerend or top. Thevcasing bearing the coil 3 is connected to the bushing l'by meansof an insulating collar 8, which is mounted in fixed relation to nut 9, which screws -intothe internal threads in the outer end of the bushing 1.

The nut 9 fits into a groove on the outer surface of the insulating collar 8 so that the insulating collar 8 and the nut 9 are held firmly together, and the casing 4 has a central flange 5 projecting from the end 5, which fits snugly into t-he insulating collar l8 and holds the casing 4 in place.

The movable make-and-break electrodev is i' .shown at 10, and it comprises a tubular member received by the sleeve 6ta-nd terminating at one extremity in ay movable electrode point 11. This movable electrode has an annular flange @intermediate itsends,

and on either side of this. flange are antifriction balls 13, the balls on the outer side of this flange on Fig. 1 being held in place vby the end 'of-the casing 1l, yand the balls on the-inner or lower side'ofthis flange being held in place by means of a, gland 14 which fits tightly into the inner end of the bore through the collar 8. This construction permits the electrode l0 torotai freely in the Ahollow `pushing l, as well as in the casing of the electromagnetic coil 4,

As stated above, the rotatable vmake-andbreak electrode 10 is hollow, and the longition coil.

tudinal bore thereof receives an insulating sleeve 15. This sleeve 15 has a circumferential collar 16 adjacent its inner extremity,

and beyond this collar the surface 17 of this insulator sleeve is made conical, as shown, and fits snugly Within the"inner end of the bore through the electrode 10. The elec trode 10 is cast or otherwise secured in place on the insulator sleeve 15 and forms therewith a single structural unit.

Passing longitudinally and centrally through the insulating sleeve 15 is a high tension electrode stem 1S, that lits into a head 19 which is designed to be attached to the secondary Wire ot' a magneto or induc The inner end of the electrode stem 18 passes out through the ainner end of the sleeve 15 and is bent at 20 at rightangles, to form a jump spark point. This spark point 20 cooperates with a fixed point 21 which is screwed into the inner end of the bushing 1.

The mov ble electrode 10 is operated by the action of the magnetic coil 3 upon a suitable armature contained by the casing 4. This armature is attracted by a pole piece 22, which is semi-circular in form andis fixed by means of a screw or bolt to the end late 7. The armature' is shown. at 24 and is preferably cu:ved in form and pivoted to the end plate 7 'at 25.

26 is a stop in or bolt in the end plate 7 which limits the movement of the armature away from the pole piece, and 27 is a compression spring fitting in recesses in the end of the armature 24 and the adjacent face of the pole piece 22, which holds the armature in its extreme outer position against .f the stop 26. y

The boss 6 hasv a cutaway portion 6 at its end adjacent the plate 7, to aEord space for lateral play to an arm or projection 10', on a ring 12 fixed in the end of the rotatable electrode 10. This projection 10 is engaged by a compressi f1 rrring28 itting into a recess in the pole piece 23, which normally acts upon the projection 10 in such a Way as to hold the electrode point 11 in contact With a fixed electrode on the inner end ot the bushing 1.

28 is a projection or knob on the armature, by which themadial arm 10 is engaged when the coil 3 is energized and the armature attracted.

The inner end of the bushing 1 is rovided `with an end Wall 29, in Whic is formed a notch or opening 30. This notch or opening has radial sides 31, and against one ot these sides the electrode point 11, attachedto the electrode 10, is normally pressed by the spring 23', above mentioned.

rThe top ci the casing 4 is `closed by a cap 32. This cap 32 receivesan annular terminal 34 which is made ol metal but insulated trom the cap 32 by means oit insulation 33.

l 18 passes.

acume The terminal 34 is tubularand receives a round piece 'ot insulation 35 which has a longitudinal vperforation throughy which the outer end of the high tension electrode stem Itiwill behoted that'fthe bushing "1 -and the electrodes 10,20 and 21v are of'any suitable metal.v r1he ca sing 4, the end 5 and the inner boss 6 are preferably made of inagnetic metal, as Well as the pole-piece 23 and the armature 24. The cap 32, however, as

`Well as the terminal 34 should be iliade ot some metal which isnon-magnetic so that the magnetic circuit may be completed through the pole piece and armature which the cap 32 covers. n

ln operation, if low tension current be employed, the conducting Wire is connected to the terminal 34. Current passing over this Wire is led to the coil 3 by means of Wire 36, and after traversing the saidcoil passes to ground because the inner end of said coil is connected to the metal frame of the igniter in the usual manner. The Vcurrent energizes the coil 3 and causes the pole piece=22 to attract the magnet 24. The magnetic attraction overcomes the spring 27, pulling the armature 24 suddenly inward. As a result. the projection 28 strikes the radial arm 10 a sudden blow which temporarily overcomes the operative action of the spring `28` and causes the tubular electrode '10 to rotate on its longitudinal axis.. rll`his rota- I tion moves the electrode pointj11 away from the radial edge 31 of'the opening 30, against which the action of the. spring 23 normally holds it. The moment the electrode point 11 is separated from the edge 31 the circuit is broken, the spark is drawn andthe charge in the engine cylinder is ignited, as is usual in devices of this sort.

Should the low tension electrodes of my igniter become foul or otherwise get out ot. order the igniter can be used as a high tension igniter by merely sending secondary current to the head `19. nA jump spark `will then be obtained at the proper instant between the points 20 and 21.

Preferably, the head 19 is inade separate 'from the stem 18 forconvenience in assembling the parte together. When the cap 32 bearing thev terminal 34 is screwed into the casing 4, the insulation 35 carrying the terminal head 19, causes this head 19 to engage the stem-18,` and lits it down over the end thereof, thus forming a good electrical connection. At the same time the end of the stem 18 rotates freely in the head 19. The casing 4 with its contents has a tight fit in the bushing 1 because of the flange 5 fitting into the outer end of the collar 8.

lt will be noted thatthe stem 18 is fixed to the tubular electrode 10 by means of the insulation 15. uWhen the electrode 10 turns, the stern 18 turns with it. Mlits a result any Patent therethrough, means Jtor insulating said CII ` ple/ted.

`trodes from each other, and eleotiomagnetio` low bushing,

massifssoot or oil bridging the points 2O and 21 will be shaken ofi. By means or" this construction, should the high tension electrode get fouled and stop working the operator can at 'once switch over to low tension, and the tubular electrode in its working movements, then oauses the. electrode points 2O and 21 todestroy the short circuit between them' and nia-kes them fit for further use.

The wire 3G is a-loose upstandingend of wire, and when the cap' 32" is""sorewed iii place,a Iflange Se on the terminalt comes into Contact with thisv end of the coil 3. In this way the circuit to the eoihv isoom- My duplex plug is designed to be used in Connection with my duplex magneto, which has a lonT tension armature to furnish our:l rent to the velectrode points 11 .and 31, and a rounding the` said rotatable tubular eleotrode, an armature cooperating with said magnet, and a radial projection from the outer end of said rotatable tubular electrode" in position -to be engaged by said armature when the Coil is energized.

ln a duplex" igniter fon internal com bustion engines, the loombinatiomot .ai hollow bushiiig, a. rotatable tubular low tensionh electrode carried by said bshing,I va high tension electrode supported by said low tension electrode and passing longitudinali/y therethrough, means insulating `said eletrodesroin' each other, aneleetroniagiiet haiying a polepiece surrounding saldretatabletubular electrode, van armature 'teooperating with said tubular electrode, and a radial armrprojecting ifi'om the outer end of saidti'ibular electrode in position "to, be

high tension coil, to step up the armature engaged/by said armature when `the Coil is Vcurrent for the electrode points 2O and 21'.

An application for a patent-"on my duplex` magneto, Serial Number 602,39"Zwasv tiled on January 13,1911. l

Obviously, y,such changes in the 'shape .and size of the parts as fairly .come within the scope or' my invention'inayibe made when desired. f Having thus described,y my intention, I Claim as new Aand desire to secure by Letters 1. In a duplex igniter for internal Coinbustion engines, the combination of a!y hollow bushing, a low tension electrode carried by said bushing, and a highv tension eleotrode supported .by said low tension eleotrode and insulated therefrom.l y*

Q. In a duplex igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a hollow bushing, a tubular low tension electrode carried by sai'd bushing, a high tensioneieotrede mounted in said low tension electrode and passing' longitudinally therethrough, and an insulatino' sleeve Carried by' said -iow tension electrode and separating the high tensioneleotrode therefrom.

3. In a duplex igniter for internal oombustion engines, the combination ot a hollow bushing, a rotatable tubular low tension electrode Carried thereby, a high tension elect-rode supported by said low tension electrode and passing `\longitudinally therethrough, means for insulating said eleomeansby which the low ,tension electrode is operated.

4. In a. duplex igniter .for internal oombustion engines, the Combination of a hol- Y a rotatable. tubular low tension electrode carried thereby, a. high tension electrode supported by said low tension electrode and 'passing lfnifitudinally l 1 A' electrodes trom each other. an t fromagnet supported by said bushing and sur-l energized. Y \f 6. In a duplex igniteor internal oombustion engines; comprising a hollow bush-y ing, a rotatable tubulanlow tension eleotrolie`A carried thereby, a high tension electrode sup-I ported 'by said low tension,I electrode'r and passing longitudinallyntherethrough, means for insulating said electrodes from each other, electroinagnetiel means carried bythe plug for operating the low tension Vvelectrode, and independent terminals (for said high tension and said' low tension electrodes oarried by said igniter for conduct-ing current thereto.

7-. in a dupley` igniter loi'inter'nal com bastion engines, comprisingl a hollow bushing, a rotatable tubular low tension electrode Carriedr thereby, a rhigh ``ten'sionl electrode supported by said low tension electrode/and passing longitudinally `tlieretlirongh, ineens trodes from one another, means for operat- ,l1-2

ingythe low tension electrode, and independ-I ent terminals for said electrodes supported on said igniter, one ot'said terminals being tubular and the other terminal passing therethrough and being insulated therefrom..

9.v in, a duplexv igniter for internal Combustion engines, the combination ofa hollow iuishing, a low tension electrode carried by said bushing. and a. high tension electrode carried hy' id bushing and dinw-able with the said low tension electrode.'

10. In e duplex igniter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a hollow buelnng, a low tension electrode carried by bustion engines, the combination of a hollow bushing, a. low tension electrode carried by Said bushing, and a high tension electrode supported by Said low movable thereby and insulated therefrom.

l2. In un igliition-evice, the combination ol a high tension electrode stem, :1nd a movable low tension electrode, the high tension electrode being connected to the low tension electrode so as to be moved therewith when the low tenslon elect-rode is in action.

tension electrode andy 13. In an ignition device, the combination ot' a movable low tension electrode, and a high tension electrode insulated therefrom, the said high tension electrode being,` connected to the said low tension electrode to be moved therewith when the low tension electrode is in action.

14. In a duplex ignition device, the combine-tionl of a movable low tension electrode and a movable high tension electrode distinct from the movable low tension electrode :1nd connected to move therewith.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the piesence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL MESSERSCHMID.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. NICKEL, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Cpmmissimner of V1'?a.'senta, Washington, D. C. 

